By Allison Sadlier
New York office - 646-873-7565 / usnews@swns.com
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
Over half of women (56%) feel they were not given an adequate education when it comes to different types of birth control methods.
A new study of 2,000 women ages 18-50 examined the overall attitudes and emotions associated with sexual education and found that one in two felt they were improperly taught about sexual health.
Forty-six percent revealed they never had a “sex talk” with either of their parents, and of those that did (38%), the average age was 12 years old.
The survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Paragard® IUD found that 54% of those who had a parental sex talk, were given a book about bodily functions.
A third (34%) of women who had a sex talk with their parents were shown an awkward video, while 46% said their parents used euphemisms to explain sex.
When it came to talk content, it varied. Three in five (61%) said their parents told them what sex was, but less than half (47%) were taught about birth control.
Results also found sexual education in school was uneven seeing as 40% said a lack of education in school was a top contributor to their lack of sexual education.
The average respondent had a sexual education class in ninth grade. Forty-four percent of respondents said they felt the awkward topic contributed to inadequacies in their education.
Other elements that played a role in sexual education gaps included religious reasons (42%), shame (36%), not knowing all the available options (34%).
The knowledge rift in sexual education only seems to widen around birth control. Women 41-50 were 33% more likely to be taught about birth control by their parents than respondents 18-25.
Nearly one in five (19%) said they never learned about birth control at all, while only 16% said they were taught by their parents and 14% learned in school.
The average respondent has changed birth control three times.
Forty-one percent admitted they changed methods after receiving a recommendation from a friend, whereas only 38% took a recommendation from their doctor. A third even did their own research about available birth control forms.
In spite of women starting to take charge of their sexual health, 69% did not know there is such a thing as prescription birth control that’s hormone free.
Hormone-free birth control is something women seem open to exploring seeing as 58% would like to learn more.
TOP TOPICS IN SEX ED
- Sexually transmitted diseases 56%
- Pregnancy and birth 51%
- What is sex 50%
- Sexual anatomy 47%
- Sexual orientations 47%
- Consent 30%
SEX TALK TOPICS (OF THOSE WHO HAD ONE) (Q6)
- What is sex 60%
- Pregnancy and birth 59%
- Sexual orientations 57%
- Birth control 48%
- Sexual anatomy 44%
- Consent 41%
- Sexually transmitted diseases 39%
FIRST TAUGHT BIRTH CONTROL
- I have never learned about birth control 19%
- My parents 16%
- School 14%
- Friends 9%
- Internet 8%
- Family physician 8%
- Extended family 7%
- TV show/movie 7%
- Magazine article 6%
- A sibling 4%
